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For Lorain, just being a finalist was a victory for a water system that draws from Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, which caught fire about 40 years ago because of high levels of petroleum-based pollution.

The contamination helped inspire the federal Clean Water Act.

Lorain Mayor Tony Krasienko said he was pleased to learn Tuesday that his town had been ranked so highly.

"I think it's our love and tenderness that we put into the water system," he said.

The Lorain native said the water quality is a result of some of the latest technology under use in the area's water system. And the town takes advantage of how clean Lake Erie has become, he said.

"Lake Erie has been very kind and has provided us with a great water source," Krasienko said. "It makes me proud of the city. We spend a significant amount of money on our water system."E-mail to a friend